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Just when you thought Kentucky coach Mark Pope was through recruiting for the 2025-26 season, he brings in another four-star recruit.
Braydon Hawthorne, a 6-foot-8, 175-pound small forward out of Huntington (W.V.) Prep, verbally committed to Kentucky Tuesday.
He is a top 40 recruit nationally after starting the 2024-25 season not even ranked in the top 150 in his recruiting class. Hawthorne had signed with West Virginia but after coach Darian DeVries left for Indiana before re-opening his recruitment.
Hawthorne picked the Cats over Duke, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech and West Virginia. His other offers were from Wichita State, Radford, Pepperdine, Old Dominion, Ohio, Mount St. Mary’s and Florida Gulf Coast.
“I feel like I have the best relationship out of all the schools with Coach (Mark) Pope,” Hawthorn told Travis Branham of 247Sports about why he picked Kentucky. “He calls me and texts me more than anybody I have ever talked to in the past, since he has been recruiting me.”
Hawthorne’s approach is similar to that of Miami (Ohio) transfer Reece Potter. Both are coming intending to play despite Kentucky’s deep roster but also understand next season could be a chance for them to grow into a major role on the 2026-27 UK roster.
“If I come in and do what I got to do, then I will have an opportunity to play,” Hawthorne told Branham. “If not, I am going to put my head down and keep working and get ready for the next year and do what I can to support my team.”
Hawthorne has a versatile skill set, can defend multiple positions and also has a 7-foot-3 wingspan. Huntington Prep coach Arkell Bruce described Hawthorne as a player with a “high IQ for the game” when he played against future UK teammate Jasper Johnson at a showcase in Woodford County last season.
5 Responses
Well, the Pope could platoon two teams and still have 3 guys on the bench not playing. Should be interesting. Devin Booker didn’t start and things worked out pretty well for him.
Does his signing mean Oweh is not coming back? We only have 13 scholarships.
I think they are anticipating a 15 scholarship limit for next year
I have read talk about that Larry, but if it remains at 13 and Oweh comes back, who loses their scholarship?
6’7 with a 7’3" wingspan my goodness. That might be the longest wingspan for a guy that size I’ve ever seen. To put it into context the 6’11" Croatian who is huge as a 7’2" wingspan this kid is over 4" s smaller and has a bigger wingspan. That’s great for putting your hand out in the lane and knocking down passes also for grabbing rebounds around the basket especially offensive rebounds. What I’ve heard about Hawthorne is that he exploded this year. He is actually ranked higher than Jasper Johnson in the rankings. Dont count this kid out. He might be on the end of the bench but Pope was smart to get him. He has a all around game and will help this team in practice. I think by signing him you have to think about it like MOd as the starter at the 3 and Williams backing him up. It will be a fight for third string minutes between Noah and Hawthorne. Its almost like Pope is getting too many guys. I know the limit is 15 but are these guys going to just come here for the money and chill on the bench or are they going to at least stay 2 years? I think Pope tells them to play for him and give him at least 2 years to take there game to the next level and if they aren’t having fun and improving then go somewhere else that will make you better? A good basketball team has 7 good guys. A great basketball team has 8-9 good guys. A championship team has 10-11 good guys and we are now at 13 good guys. I don’t see one weakness on this team. If Oweh comes back or even if he doesn’t come back we have a final 4 team. We might really have too many people for Oweh to come back. He will play about 30 mpg if he comes back if he doesn’t that frees up 30 minutes you can spread between 2-3 guys. If he comes back there will be some guys who don’t play. If he doesn’t come back I can see everyone playing. So really its a win win either way. I think that’s what Pope is doing setting it up where he’s good no matter the decision. Oweh should have withdrawn from the draft by now. He only has a couple more days to do so. If Oweh doesn’t come back Chandler and Johnson will get alot more minutes.